Hunter Heath

Review of Indiana Historical Society

At my most recent visit, the L.S. Ayres & IN Const...

At my most recent visit, the L.S. Ayres & IN Constitution interactive exhibits required "suspension of disbelief," but for those willing to play along, it was an amusing way to learn. Children brought to them were puzzled and probably understood little of what they were seeing.The T.C. Steele art exhibit gave a once-in-a-lifetine chance to see a large group of privately held and seldom-exhibited paintings by Indiana's iconic painter. The interactive computer-based history room is the one area where a visitor could spend hours digging into specific areas of IN history. Other exhibits were restricted to panels with text and photos about various aspects of state history. Friendly and helpful docents were ready for conversation about the exhibits. The Cole Porter room has brief biographical information & photographs, but the highlight for me was the charming and talented young lady who sang Porter songs on request. While I enjoy my visits, be aware this is a small museum as part of IHS's larger missions. Unlike, say, the Indiana State Museum, it's not a place where most visitors would enjoyably spend the day. It will be best appreciated when visited for the special exhibitions or specific research. Happily, there is convenient parking in the museum's adjacent lot (but it is small and at times full).